He’s back. James Howard Thome is yet again, a Philadelphia Phillie. The 41-year-old first baseman signed a one-year contract worth $1.25M, pending a physical which is scheduled for today (Saturday). Which means the deal could be officially announced as soon as this afternoon. With Ryan Howard’s possibility of starting the 2012 season on the DL, Thome seems to be a solid pick up for the Phillies.
Thome has jumped to different teams in his career, most spending most of his time with the Cleveland Indians (1992-2002). After the 2002 season, Thome accepted a six-year $85 million offer from the home hit 47 home runs in his first season with the Phillies to finish one behind Mike Schmidt’s single-season team record of 48 set in 1980. Thome would go on to reach milestones in red pinstripes, on June 14, 2004, Thome hit his 400th career home run to the left-center field seats at Citizens Bank Park. Thome’s previous seasons didn’t carry through as well in 2005 due to injuries, only hitting seven home runs by the All-Star break. With Ryan Howard waiting to be called up, Thome was blocking his spot to the majors. After the 2005 campaign, Thome was sent to the Chicago White Sox for outfielders Aaron Rowand, Gio Gonzalez, and Daniel Haigwood.
Spending three seasons with Ozzy Guillen and the Chi-Sox, Thome eclipsed the 500 home run mark on September 16, 2007. Yet another remarkable feat by one of the only “real home run hitters” left in the game. Thome was traded in late-2009 to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and only received a bogus amount of playing time (4 hits in 17 at-bats). Moving to Minnesota, Thome was beloved in the Twin Cities. Being used as the Twins’ DH, Thome did his job. In the 2010 season, Thome home finished with a .283 avg, 25 home runs and 59 RBI. Signing up with the Twins for another season in 2011, Thome began sitting on 589 home runs.
As the countdown to 600 began, Thome made the trek to history. On August 15, 2011, Thome hit his 599th and 600th career home runs against the Detroit Tigers. Thome became just the eighth player in history to eclipse 600 home runs. Thome would finish the 2011 campaign with 604 career home runs.
And now, for us all in Philadelphia, James Howard Thome has once again rejoined our humble squad. The six-foot, three-inch big boy from Illinois is back in red pinstripes. Thome actually has a better shot of winning it all with the Phillies this tenure than he did his last. Missing the Phillies’ five straight postseasons with the Phillies and a parade down Broad Street, Thome is once again joining the place where 204 home runs ago, he called home.
It’d be really nice to see Jim retire a Phillie, as we always wished.
SW- Erik Seybold
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